In an apparent warning to Israel, the Iranian military launched an explosive-laden drone from a landing ship at a mock version of an Israeli Navy base during a drill Saturday.
Footage published by the official Islamic Republic News Agency showed the Hengam-class landing ship IRIS Lavan launching an Ababil “suicide drone” toward the simulated naval base.
Twitter accounts dedicated to open-source intelligence-gathering were quick to point out that the mock base was designed with a similar building layout to the Eilat Naval Base, in the Red Sea coast city of the same name.
Next to the simulated target was also a mock version of an Israeli Navy Sa’ar 6-class corvette.
Iran’s Army launched a series of drills on Thursday, dubbed Zolfaqar 1401, in an area stretching from the Strait of Hormuz near the Persian Gulf to the northern area of the Indian Ocean.
The drills are being held by the Iranian Army’s various wings — the Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force and Navy.
